Seven Days to Christmas

It may be seven days 'til Christmas, but it is the actual day of the final match in the World Cup, Soccer (or futbol) premiere event, the crowing of a World Championship Team.  What a match, France versus Argentina.  As I have throughout the tournament, I had the coverage on Peacock in Spanish.  What's fun about the whole experience, spread across several games?  The increasing ability to "catch the drift" of what's going on through my ears.

Since even the commercials are in Spanish, it reminds me so much of my experience in Italy on a business trip that lasted seven weeks, back in the 1980's.  I would turn on the TV in the evenings, and of course it was all in Italian.  Then based on what I saw heard the night before, would ask the guys at work what this or that meant.  By the end of those seven weeks I was able to "get by" pretty well, at least as far as the basics, directions, purchases, etc.

Argentina strikes first at about 24 minute mark.  And again at minute 35.  OMG, I watched them set up that second goal.  It was a long play back and forth the entire length of the pitch, but Argentina clearly controlled it (as much as anything is controlled in soccer, that is).  It was a thing of beauty.  You can see why they are in the finals.  

But then France came back with two quick goals deep in the second "half" (although strictly speaking soccer isn't timed the same way as most American sports).  Proving that they, too, belong in the finals.  It went into Extra Time, that phase of soccer where most of us have no clue when the game will actually end.  This ended with a tie, but that's a no-no in soccer.  We must have a winner, so they line up five(?) players on each side to do a penalty kick and whoever gets the most of those (one kicker versus the other team's goalie)... wins the game.  It went to the end, with Argentina winning on those kicks.

And after that excitement, who can even think about American NFL games?

My day continued from that point. I gave away the other half of the banana bread to the neighbor with whom I share a fence.  I continued with a walk outside.  It did not seem that cold, as there was sunshine and no wind to speak of.  The weather is headed for the deep freeze, with a high below zero F next Thursday, so I'm appreciating today while it's "nicer".

I sauteed onions and mushrooms, added baby spinach to it, and put two eggs sunny side up atop a baked yam for my "major" meal.  I felt really full after that meal, ended my eating window with baby carrots, an orange and my biocoffee a little after 2:30 p.m.

I plated up another batch of the better-looking cookies.  It's one thing to have baking as a holiday tradition.  Quite another thing to be left alone with the product of that baking!  

Alicia to the rescue.  She still has that marvelous place one takes excess treats to.  A job!  I drove my extra plateful over to her house while it was still daylight.  I'm going to call today a success.

Here's hoping you all had a "successful" Sunday, whatever that needs to mean for you!  

Life is good.  Spark on!